Vending apparatus



(NoModeLj J. A. WILLIAMS. VENDING APPARATUS.

No. 443,343. Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

ON LINE 2 -2 IIIIIIIIII/I!!!\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. WVILLIAMS, BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE \VILLIAMSAUTOMATIC MACHINE COMPANY, OF MOUNDSVILLE, IVEST VIRGINIA.

EVEN DING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,343, dated December23, 1890.

Application filed May 23, 1890. erial No. 352,882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN A.WILLIAMS. a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn,in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to vending apparatus; and it consists in variousfeatures and details, hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of theoperating mechanism of a vending-machine, partly in section; Fig. 2, alongitudinal central section on line 2 2 of Fig. 4; Fig. 3, a sectionalview illustratin g the operation of the mechanism by means of which theinsertion of a coin into the machine is prevented; Fig. 4, a front faceView; Fig. 5, a vertical sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig.6, a plan View of the horizontal portion of my delivery-slide, and Fig.7 a perspective viewof one of the blocks for supporting the coin when itis first inserted into the machine.

The present invention is designed as an improvement upon the variousmachines represented by certain Letters Patent issued to me, dated andnumbered, respectively, August 21, 1888, No. 388,101; April 30, 1889,No. 402,374; November 12, 1889, Nos. 414,786 and 414,787; April 2:2,1890, No. 426,086, and June 14, 1890, Nos. 430,497, 430,498, and430,499.

Aindicates a supporting-frame for the operating mechanism,which frame,in the present instance, is shown as made of a single casting. The framecomprises a plate B, having a coinopening a, a block O, upon which thearticles to be sold rest, and parallel walls or guides D, which aregrooved on their inner faces to receive the operating-slide E and thedelivery slide F, these parts being arranged substantially as shown inmy patent, No. 430,497, before referred to, to which reference is herebymade for details not contained herein.

The operating-slide E is provided with a coin-slot e, normally inalignment with the coin-slot a in the plate B, and the outer end of thesaid slide E is turned upwardly, so as to form a handle by means ofwhich this slide may be actuated.

Delivery-slide F is provided with an opening f near its front end, andin advance of the opening it is provided with a lug or projection g, asshown in Figs. 2, 4, and 0, the said lug or projection being located inad- Vance of the arm K, secured to the under side of theoperating-slide. A coiled spring G, connected at one end with thedeliveryslide and at the opposite end with the removable back plate J,serves to hold the deliveryslide normally within the machine, while asimilar spring I, connected at its forward end to the operating-slide(or its arm K) and at the rear end to a pin or rod 1), extending acrossthe frame from one wall D to the other, serves to hold theoperating-slide also normally within the machine.

L indicates a pawl or dog pivoted to the inner face of one of the wallsor guides D, and said pawl is provided with a rounded lower end or tail0 and a pointed nose (Z, as shown in Fig. 2, the nose of the pawl beingadapted to engage the under face of the operating-slide E, which latteris serrated or roughened, as at h, Fig. 2. A light coiled spring 71extends from the pawl to the rod or stem 19, so that when thedelivery-slide is pulled forward so as to bring the cut-away portion jbeneath the tail of the dog, the latter will be rocked or tipped and itsnose (1 8o thrown into engagement with the operating or actuating slideE.

M indicates a bolt which works through a vertical hole or opening k inthe table or support O, and is provided at its lower end with a head orenlargement Z, which extends beneath plate B into position to engage theactuating or operating slide E and prevent the inward movement of thelatter. A light coiled spring 'm encircles the bolt M and tends to 0hold the upper end of the latter above the top of the table or support Cagainst the pressure of the articles to be sold, which rest upon thesaid table or support.

The operating-slide is (advisably, but not 5 necessarily) cutaway at itsinner end, so that when the head of the bolt M is brought to theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the said slide may move inward over thehead or enlargement Z, so as to bring the coin-slot 0 into too alignmentwiththe coin-slot (I. That portion of the delivery-slide which movesover the face of the table or support has its front edge beveled, asshown at )1, Figs. 2, l, and 5, so that when the slide moves forwardover the said support or table it will depress the pin or bolt M in casethe latter should be up into the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to vary the relative positions of the slides E F and for thefurther purpose of limiting or varying the backward or inward movementof the slide F, I provide the plate .1 with an adjustingscrew (),whichis adapted to bear against the upturned end of the tie livery-slide, asclearly shown in Fig. 2, said screw being held in its adjusted positionby means of a lock-nut o, as shown in Figs. 1 and i.

Secured to the delivery-slide F near its inner end is a device forregulating or controlling the amount of force required to operate themachine, which regulating or resistance device is shown as comprising aspring-arm 1, which is provided near its forward end with a shoulder p,as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6. The free end of this spring-arm restsnormally beneath the rod Z), so that when it is desired to pull theslide F forward it will be necessary to depress the free end of thespring-arm, or, in other words, to cause the shouldered portion 1) toride beneath the rod 7). In order to regulate, govern, or vary the forceof this spring-arm, 1 provide a set-screw q, which, bearing upon theunder side of the spring-arm, forces the latter against the under sideof the red I) with greater or less force, as may be desired. Thisimportant feature of the present invention is to be distinguished fromthat class of devices wherein there is employed an air-cylinder andpiston to delay or to prevent the too rapid movement of one of theparts, and thereby give time for the proper movement of the other partsconnected with the firstanentioned part.

Q Q indicate two blocks, which are arranged opposite each other upon theinner faces of the walls or guides D D immediately below the coin-slota, as shown in Figs. 1 and 52. Each block is provided on its inner facewith a lug or projection 1', having a rounded or curved bearing-face sfor the reception of the coin, the curved faces extending downwardly andinwardly from their upper ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

Projecting from the inner face of one of the walls or guides D is a pinor stud R, which, as shown in Figs. 1, 9, and 4, has its inner endbeveled or inclined, so that when the coin which is carried by theslides E and F comes into contact with this pin or stud the latter willmove the coin to one side and downward, as shown by the dotted lines inFig. i, so that the coin will be thrown out of engagement with theactuating or operating slide.

hen the machine is filled with the articles to be sold, the latter,resting upon the table or support 0, depress the pin or bolt M so thatthe head of the latter shall be below the bottom face of the actual ingoroperating slide, or, in other words, the weight of the material to besold shall depress the lockingbolt )1, so that the coin-slot a of theactuating or operating slide may come into alignment with the coin-slota in the plate 13 of the frame A, as shown in Fig. Now when a coin isdropped into the slot. a it passes downward and falls upon and issupported at the sides by the curved faces 8 of thelugs or projections1' of the blocks Q, and it will also be supported at its upper edgewithin the opening or slot made in the actuating or operating slide E,as shown in Fig. 2.

It would, perhaps, be well to call attention to the fact that the frontwall of the coinslot c in the operating-slide is cut out, as shown inFig. 1, so as to leave a narrow tongue or projection to bear upon thecoin when the slide is pulled outward, this tongue or projection beingrepresented in Fig. 1. At the time that the coin is inserted and beforethe slide E is pulled outward the lower end of the pawl or dog L willcoineinto contact with the front wall of the cut-away portion ot' thedelivery-slide Fand will be prevented by the said front wall from cominginto engagement with the actuating or operating slide E, as clearlyshown in Fig. .2. lly moving or pulling the slide E outward the coinwill strike against the lug g on the delivery-slide and will, by reasonof the engagement of the coin with the slide E and its arm K, be carriedoff the lugs 1' of the blocks Q, and as soon as the two slides E and Fare thus locked together by means of the coin any further outwardmovement of the slide IE will cause a corresponding outward movement ofthe slide F; but it will be observed that at the instant that the slideF is moved forward far enough to permit the small spring '5 to come intoaction the pawl or dog L will be tipped or rocked and its nose (I thrownupward into engagement with the underside of the actuatingslide E, andthereby locks said slide in position in case it shall not have beenpulled outward far enough to cause thedischarge of one of the articlesto be sold. It will also be observed that inasmuch as the coin connectsthe slides E and F this locking of the slide E by means of the pawl Ialso indirectly effects a locking of the slide F. Continuing the outwardmovement of the slide E the coin is brought into contactwith the bevelednose or inner end of the pin or stud R, and is moved laterally anddownwardly, so that the upper end of the coin is freed from engagementwith the actuating-slide E, and as soon as this is accomplished thespring G connected with the delivery-slide draws the said slide inwardto its normal position, and when it arrives at this point the end wallof the cut-away portion j of the said slide F will strike the tail ofthe pawl or dog L and throw the nose of the latter out of engagementwith the slide E, and thereby permit the spring I to draw the said IIOactuating-slide inward to its normal position. In order to actuate themachine, the force of the springs G and I has to be overcome, and inorder to, increase the force required to' operate themacl iine thespring-arm P may be ad usted so as to press upon the under face of therodB with a greater or less force, as desired.

If the spring-arm be set up so as to require a considerable pull uponthe slide E in order to actuate the machine and a lead or othercounterfeit be inserted into the machine, the said counterfeit will notbe able to withstand the force. or power to which'it is subjected, andwill therefore yield and prevent the surreptitious working of themachine. This feature is particularly valuable with machines of thecharacter herein described-that is, in which the two slides areconnected directly by means of the coin-for it is clear that if the coinor other token be not of the proper strength it cannot withstand thestrain to which it is subjected in locking the two slides together.

\Vhen the articles to be sold are all exhausted, the coiled spring mthrows the pin or bolt M up into the position shown in Fig. 3, the heador enlargement Z of the said bolt coming up into alignment with theactuating or operating slide E, so that the coin-slot e of the latterwill be prevented from coming into alignment with the coin-slot rain theframe A. By this means the insertion of a coin into the machine isprevented,unless the machine be provided with the articles to be sold ineX-' change for the coin.

By turning the screw 0 in such direction as to cause the slide F to moveforward the lug g thereon will be carried far enough in advance of thecoin-supporting lugs r to make the space between said lugs r and g wideenough to permit thin counterfeits and dummies to pass through into themoney-box, instead of remaining in engagement with the slides E F. Therelative position of the lug g to the curved faces of thecoin-supporting blocks is a matter of considerable importance inadapting the machine to the rejection of counterfeits, which arefrequently inserted through the slots at e. The curved faces 8 of thecoin-supporting lugs r are so shaped that an irregularly-shaped piece ofmoney (or thin bogus piece) will be tipped and its lower edge carriedforward over and in advance of the space formed between the lugs r andg, so that its lower edge will not be engaged by the lug g. If the coinor bogus piece be of regular (circular) shape, but is too thin, it willnot be tipped, as just above described, but will fall straight downthrough the slides E F between the lugs r and g. The rejection ofcounterfeits is further insured by the formation of the tongue, whichforms the front Wall of the slot 6 of the slide E, as it is clear thatif an angular coin or token be inserted into the machine it will betipped, as before described, and its upper edge will be brought out ofline with this narrow point. Of course if the slide E be pulled outwardwhile the coin is in this position the lower edge of the coin will(possibly) strike against the lug g; but as soon as it does this itsupper edge, being unsupported, will be thrown forward, and the coin willfall intothe box without looking the slides together. By these variousdevices the surreptitious working of th e m ach in e is effectuallyprevented.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In avending-machine in which the strain necessary for the actuation of themachine comes upon the coin inserted, the combination, with theactuating-slide of such a machine, of a resistance device constructedand arranged substantially as shown and described, and means foradjusting the resistance device to increase or diminish the strain putupon the coin or token inserted.

2. In a vending-machine in which the actuating and delivery slides areadapted to be connected by a coin or similar token, the combination,with such slides, of a resistance device constructed and arranged,substantially as shown and described, to come into action only when acoin or token is inserted, and means for adjusting the resistancedevice.

3. In a vending-machine, the combination, with the actuating anddelivery slides and their retracting-springs, of a resistance deviceindependent of the springs, adapted to come into action only in case acoin or similar token is inserted.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination, with a slide, of the bolt orpin 1) and the springarm P, all arranged substantially as shown.

5. In combination with a slide, the pin or bolt b, the spring-arm P, anda set-screw q, all arranged substantially as shown.

6. In a vending-machine, the coin-supporting blocks Q, provided eachwith alug 'r,having a curved face .9, the said curved faces extendingdiagonally across the lugs, substantially as shown.

7. In a vending-machine, the combination, with an actuating-slide and adelivery-slide, of an adjustable stop 0 to limit the inward movement ofthe delivery-slide and to vary the relative positions of the two slides.

8. In combination with a delivery-slide and an actuating-slide adaptedto be connected by means of a coin, a pin or stud R, having a beveledinner end to dislodge the coin after the slides have been pulled outwardfar enough to eject an article.

9. In a vending-machine, the combination, with a frame provided with acoin-slot a, of an actuating-slide E, provided with a coinslot 6, and adetent held out of action by the articles to be sold, all substantiallyas shown, whereby when the articles to be sold are exhausted the detentmay prevent the two coinslots from coming into alignment.

10'. In combination with frame A, having a coin-slot a, anactuating-slide E, having a coinslot e, a detent M, adapted to bedepressed by the articles to be sold into such position as to allow thecoin-slots to come into alignment, and a spring, arranged substantiallyas shown, to throw the detent into position to prevent the alignment ofthe coin-slots when the supply is exhausted.

11. In a vending-machine, the combination, with an actuating-slide, ot'a delivery-slide, a spring P, carried by the latter and adapted to bearagainst a fixed surface, and a screw for adjusting the spring, allsubstantially as shown.

12. In a vending-machine in which an actuating-slide and adelivery-slide are adapted to be connected by a coin, a single pawl ordog, as L, arranged, substantially as shown and described, to engage oneof said slides and to hold both in a partially-extended posltion in casethey should not be pulled outward far enough to eject the article to besold.

13. In aVending-machine, the combination, with an actuating-slide, of adelivery-slide adapted to be connected therewith by means of a coin, ofa pawl or dog L to engage the l actuating-slide and adapted to bedisengaged by the delivery-slide, all substantially as shown anddescribed.

ll. In a vending-machine, the combination, with an actuating-slide, of apawl adapted to engage said slide, and a delivery-slide adapted to beconnected with the actuating-slide by means of a coin and arranged,substantially as shown, to hold the pawl normally out of engagement withthe actuating-slide and to automatically release said pawl fromengagement when the disengagement has been permitted.

15. In a vending-machine, the combination, with slides E and F, (thelatter having acutaway portion j,) of a pawlL, having a tail to work inthe cut-away portion, and a spring II, connected with the pawl, allsubstantially as shown.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN A. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

GEO. \V. SHERMAN, WILLIAM F. BUTLER.

